Monday in the third week of lent

Date:  March 21
Lectionary Link:  https://www.lectionarypage.net/WeekdaysOfLent/MondayThirdWeek.html
Contributor:  Madisen Crow

​Psalm 42:6–7
6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why are you so disquieted within me?
7 Put your trust in God; *
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
 
When I got the email with the date I would be offering my Lenten reflection, which is a particularly chaotic day in an extremely busy time of year for me professionally, I will admit, my first thought was why did I sign up for this? (Sorry, Marion!) But I try to see Lent as a time to re-center myself, and this exercise pushed me to do that in a way that I really haven’t so far this Lenten season.
 
The first thing that stuck out to me when I was reviewing the readings for today was the final two verses of Psalm 42, about putting your trust in God when your soul feels heavy and disquieted. When I am overwhelmed by the gravity of world events, or struggling to figure out my place in it or my path going forward, it sometimes feels easier not to contemplate it at all. I could let this Lenten season pass me by with an “I’ll just catch it next year!” attitude, but then I remember that when I’m feeling heaviness in my soul, turning to God, rather than away from God, is always the best choice.
 
At the time I was thinking through this reflection I came across a quote from a letter written by the author E.B. White, and it’s been on my mind ever since. I have always believed that spiritual messages can show up anywhere at any time, not just when you open your bible, and finding this quote is a perfect example of that for me. If you are also feeling heaviness in your soul, as so many of us are, I will let a famous author send a message to you too.
 
“I think it is a fine thing to be headed in the right direction, whether you find what you are looking for or not.” –E.B. White
 
These are difficult and uncertain times, but if we put our trust in God and continue on the journey we’ll be heading in the right direction, and that’s a pretty good start.